A plea deal for a man suspected of sexually abusing Omaha children for decades is on hold.

Daniel Mangiameli, 62, went to court Wednesday ready to accept a plea bargain for multiple counts of sexual assault, but as the charges were read, Mangiameli told his lawyer and the court he was pleading to end the process.

Mangiameli's public defender, Leslie Cavanaugh, stopped the proceeding, saying she felt uncomfortable with what her client was saying to her off the record, but then openly pleading no contest in front of the judge.

Cavanaugh told Mangiameli he did not have to plea, but the man said he just wanted to get it over with.

Prosecutors said Mangiameli may have assaulted 31 children, but he faces charges in only four cases because of the statute of limitations. He was arrested in March.

In an interview on April 3, Mangiameli maintained his relationships with more than 20 boys were not criminal.

"When society turns this thing around like it is, it is a traumatic effect. The trauma can cause more harm than the actual sensual relationship we had if it was just left alone," Mangiameli said.

Meanwhile, a defense attorney said Cavanaugh did the right thing by stopping the proceeding.

"I've had that happen numerous times, where my client is balking at the plea or the factual basis and the judge will say, 'OK, I'm not going to accept your plea,'" said defense lawyer James Martin Davis.

Davis said that when it comes to plea deals, the defendant has to feel it.

"There are some clients who just don’t think what they did constituted a crime," Davis said.

Mangiameli's next court date is set for Wednesday. He said he wanted to avoid a trial in order to avoid humiliation for the boys, but prosecutor Brenda Beadle said they are prepared to go to trial if necessary.